Reading in Daily Activities

You may already be doing several of the activities listed below under some or all of these headings. Look over these lists and think about how adding some of the activities that you’re not currently doing under one or more of them might help your child become better prepared to eventually read and write. Remember that literacy occurs in the routine activities of the daily life of your child, and can involve you, other adult caregivers and your child’s friends.

Children who are allowed to actively participate in these types of activities each day also learn the value of literacy. These kinds of life experiences teach children how to use the knowledge that comes from being literate to better understand how and why the world around them works. In this way, they “learn how to learn,” and they gain skills and the confidence they’ll need to succeed in school and in life later on.

Playtime:

Describe toys: talk about their colors, textures and special features.

Read storybooks.

Ask your child to pick up toys by describing them. For instance, ask “Jose, please pick up the toy that has four blue wheels.”

Getting Dressed:

Label and describe clothes: talk about color, style and textures.

Writing:

Provide a special place for writing and art activities.

When your child draws a picture, you encourage her to write a sentence or story to tell about the picture.

Encourage your child to write notes to relatives or friends.

Collect old magazines for children to cut pictures or familiar words out of.

Leave notes for your child, even if he can’t read them yet. Ideas: Thank you; Good Morning; I Love You.